Powered paint applicator



Dec- 4, 19 M. R. CARO 3,066,337

POWERED PAINT APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Maw/454 A? 64/20 Dec. 4, 1962 M. R. cARo POWERED PAINT APPLICATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 1956 V INVENTOR. M/ch Aa H. CH0

Dec. 4, 1962 M. R. CARO 3,066,337

POWERED PAINT APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R INVENTOR.

F Maw/4.42 CAA Q A T TOR/V5 Y5 United States Patent 3,066,337 P- BWEREB PAENT AEPLEQATGR Michaei R. Care, 32200 Seneca St., Hayward, Calif. I iietl Dec. 1%, 1956, filer. No. 627,382 Claims. (Qt. -22) The present invention relates in general to an improved mechanical paint brush and more particularly to a power operated paint applicator that may be either manually or automatically directed over surfaces to be painted.

in the art of house painting as it is sometimes termed and as distinguished from artistic endeavors with paint and canvas it is required that large areas of structures such as bridges, buildings, and the like be uniformly covered with a layer of paint for protective and decorative purposes. In the aforementioned type of painting rapidity of application is important as affecting the economics of the situation and also the thoroughness of covering is important as affecting the resultant protection afforded by the paint. As regards the foregoing, compressed air spraying of paint is both rapid and thorough; however, in many circumstances this type of application is not feasible. For example, a lack of wind is required for otherwise the paint is widely scattered in the atmosphere with a consequent loss of paint and possible paint damage to surrounding objects and also where numerous breaks in the painting surface are present undue time may be consumed adequately masking the areas not to be painted. Thus spray painting by its inherent limited control of the exact area of paint application is limited so as to be ineffective in many circumstances. An alternate solution has been presented by roller brushes both manually operated and power driven but here again the wide versatility of the common paint brush is sacrificed for rapidity of application.

It has been found that the brushing action of paint loaded bristles is most efficacious for best paint coverage and this is particularly true for rough surfaces; however, an even paint coating is only insured by a wide variety of paint brush movements combined. Thus in manual paint application by brush it is found that a number of basic brush movements are required to apply paint to any and all surfaces. The present invention includes a number of paint applicators each having a different type of motion and joined together into a single unit that is power driven and having forced paint feed to the individual applicators thereof. This invention has not the limitations of previously known driven paint brushes for it includes each of the basic brush strokes and is thus applicable to all painting jobs rather than to some single particular use. Further, the present invention is highly advantageous in requiring no extensive manipulation to produce desired brush strokes at any location.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved multiple brush powered paint applicator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a powered paint applicator having paint applicators rotatable about three mutually perpendicular axes for maximized adaptability.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a powered paint applicator simultaneously simulating each of the basic paint brush strokes.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

:ififliifid? Patented Dec. 4, 1 1E622 The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal plan View of the applicator head with drive means and positionedto engage the lower set of brushes with a surface to be painted.

FIGURE 2 is a partial longitudinal section view of the applicator head taken at 22 of FIGURE 1.

FiGURE 3 is a transverse sectional View of the applicator head taken at 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view of the applicator head taken at 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view of the applicator head taken at 55 of FIGURE 2.

FiGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view cator head taken at 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FiGURE 7 is a partial section view taken at 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FiGURE 8 is a partial longitudinal section view of the applicator head taken at t 8 of FIGURE 1.

FlGURE 9 is a partial section view taken at 99 of FIGURE 8.

The invention in brief may be described as a rotatable applicator head carrying thereon a plurality of sets of paint brushes with at least one set mounted for rotation about each of three mutually perpendicular axes. Drive means are provided for rotating both head and sets of brushes thereon while pump means forces paint to each of the brushes on the head at the selection of the operator.

Considering now the illustrated embodiment of the invention in detail and referring first to FIGURE 1, there is provided an applicator head 11 connected by flexible tubing 12 to a pump 13 and drive motor 14. The applicator head 11 includes an elongated housing 16 having mounted thereon at least first, second and third sets of brushes l7, l8 and 19 respectively. Additionally the head 11 includes a bottom set 21 of brushes and may additionally include brush sets 22, 23, and 24, all as described in detail below.

As regards the housing 16, same is as an elongated hollow cylinder of rectangular cross section of substantial wall thickness and structural rigidity. As seen in FIG- URE 2 the top of the housing has a circular threaded recess into which is threaded a hollow member 26 having a flange 27 extending radially outward about the top thereof and fitted within a collar 28 having a lower inward flange and mating therewith in rotatable relationship. The flexible tube 12 is affixed to the housing 16 by means of a hollow nut 29 secured to the tube end and having an exteriorly threaded lower end screwed into an annular member 31 that is in turn threaded into the collar 28.

Power and paint are both transmitted to applicator via the flexible tube 12 and to this end the tube includes a central flexible sheath 32 about a flexible shaft 33 with the sheath sealing the shaft from the remainder of the tube through which paint flows. At the pump 13 the tube is secured to the housing thereof in communication with the interior thereof as by a hollow nut and the interior sheath is sealed to a pump impeller shaft 34 with the flexible shaft 33 connected thereto. The motor shaft is an extension or is fixed to the impeller shaft 34 so that the flexible shaft is driven by the motor 14, as is the pump 13. A pump inlet 36 communicates between the pump interior and a paint source, not shown, and the pump outlet constitutes the flexible tube 12 whereby paint flows through the latter about the sheath 32. At the top of the applicator housing 16 the sheath 32 extends through the hollow nut 29 into sealing relation with the top of the housing while the flexible shaft 33 is thereat joined to the end of an elongated rigid shaft 37 which extends axially through the housing 16. Various elements are fixed to the housing shaft along the length thereof the appliof as described below and at the lower end of thevhousing a gear 38 is fixed to the shaft 37. As shown in FIG- URE 8, the lower end of the housing 16 is closed and a splined connection is formed between same and the shaft by a ring gear 39 with interior teeth fixed about the interior of the housing thereat with the shaft end gear 38 mating therewith. By this means the housing 16 Will be seen to be rotated about the axis thereof by the housing shaft 37 from the motor 14- and provision is made to disengage this rotary drive so that the housing rotation may be stopped as desired. A handle 41 is disposed radially of the housing preferably near the top thereof extending through an L-shaped opening 42 in the housing. This handle 41 terminates in a collar about the housing shaft 37 which has formed thereon flanges 43 directly above and below the collar connection so that the shaft is readily rotatable within the handle collar. Raising of the handle moves the shaft 37 axially of the housing to disengage the lower end gears 36 and 39 and suitable connection is made at the joinder of the flexible shaft 33 and housing shaft 37 to accommodate axial displacement of the latter.

A further provision in the housing 16 are a plurality of paint passages 44 preferably disposed one at each corner of the housing and extending longitudinally thereof out of communication with each other except as may be noted below. As seen in FIGURE 3 a single transverse passage 46 extends outward from a circular depression at the housing center into which the flexible tube fits to a longitudinal passage extending into a manifold 47 formed by a closed peripheral passage about the housing and communicating with each of the four longitudinal passages 44. In this manner a forced paint supply is fed equally into the longitudinal paint passages 44 for distribution to brush sets as set out below.

With regard to the individual brush sets and referring first to the upper set 17 illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 5, there are provided a pair of like circular brushes 51 mounted on opposite sides of the housing for rotation about an axis passing through the housing and normal to the housing axis. As to the brush drive there is provided an X-member 52 secured transversely of the housing within same through which the shaft 37 extends and immediately below the member 52 a gear 53 is keyed to the shaft for rotation therewith. This key arrangement with an elongated shaft key way provides for controlled axial shaft displacement and the gear hub abuts the under side of the X-member so that no vertical gear or key displacement is possible. A pair of like bevel gears 54 on the same axis are disposed on opposite sides of the shaft gear 53 in engagement therewith inasmuch as identical brush drives are provided for each of the brushes 51 only one is herein described. The bevel gear 54 is mounted upon a stub shaft 56 extending through a transverse housing opening through a bushing or bearing fitted therein and through a gear box 57 attached to the housing side into the outer wall thereof in bearing relation thereto, all as shown in FIGURE 2. A gear 58 is secured about the stub shaft 56 in mating relation with another gear 59 above same and mounted upon a hollow shaft 61. This hollow shaft 61 is suitably mounted in the gear box for rotation and extending through outer wall thereof whereat one of the brushes 51 is eccentrically mounted. The hollow shaft 61 is fixed to the brush back near one edge thereof with a paint feeder tube 62 extending therefrom through the brush back into the bristle area while the inner end of the hollow shaft communicates with a vertical paint passage 63 along the center of one housing side. Paint is fed to the brush via the aforementioned elements and a second paint passage 64 extending from one of the main corner passages 44 to the vertical passage 63 and a valve 66 is provided in the passage 64 to control and stop paint fiow to the brush 51.

The Valve 66 may include a lateral housing 67 formed on or attached to the main housing 16 and communicating with the paint feeder passage 64 through an opening in the main housing with a valve member 68 having a head portion threaded into the lateral housing and having a constricted extension adapted to enter the paint feeder passage 64 and close same. A spring 69 beneath the valve head and compressed against the main housing holds this valve member 68 in position during operation. Each of the paint valves provided as later noted may have a similar construction to the one just described so that no further detailed discussion of such valves is included hereinafter.

it will be appreciated that the above described brush set 17 comprises two circular brushes 51 having the bristles thereof extending radially outward of the housing and eccentrically rotated by the described gear drive. Further, each of the brushes is controllably fed paint through the brush back from the pump 13 and the shaft-gear connection is such that axial shaft displacement as by the handle 41 in no way affects the gear drive connection between the brush set 17 and the shaft.

As regards the brush sets in general there are provided three different types thereof exemplified by the top three sets 17, 18 and 19. Repetition of the sets on the housing provides added paint coverage and there is herein provided two sets such as previously described, i.e., sets 17 and 23 are alike but mounted normal to each other on the housing. Additionally, sets 19 and 21 are alike and sets 18, 22, and 24 may be identical. It will be appreciated that the relative disposition of brushes along the housing may be changed; however, the illustrated arrangement has proven quite advantageous.

Considering now the second, fourth and sixth brush sets from the top, sets 18, 22, and 24 respectively, attention is invited to FIGURE 6 showing a cross section thereof. In this set 22 there are provided a plurality of radially extending brushes 71 mounted in fixed relation to the main housing 16 for rotation therewith. About the main housing 16 there is clamped an auxiliary housing 72 formed as two halves of a hollow square and joined together by bolts 73 through flanges provided at the juncture of the two halves. The auxiliary housing 72 defines a manifold 74 about the main housing and includes a port communicating between same and a paint feeder passage 76 in the main housing from one of the main paint passages 44. A valve 77 mounted on the main housing 16 operates to open and close this feeder passage to control the flow of paint to the auxiliary housing manifold 74. Transverse bosses 78 spaced about the auxiliary housing and extending outward therefrom serve as bases for the brushes '71 which fit into boss recesses and are removably fixed therein as by spring clips 79 secured to the bosses. Paint apertures 81 extend through each of the bosses 78 from the manifold 74 and feeder tubes 82 disposed in each brush through the back thereof mate with these boss apertures 81 for feeding paint to the bristles of the brushes 71. Suitable gaskets and paint sealing means may be provided in conjunction with this brush set as well as the other sets to prevent paint leakage about joints, connections and the like.

The third type of brush set is duplicated in sets 19 and 21; however, these sets are mounted normal to each other upon the housing 16, i.e., the axes of rotation thereof are perpendicular to each other so that one set is in effect rotated ninety degrees about the housing axis from the other set. Considering the structure of the bottom set 21, for example, and referring to FIGURES 8 and 9, there will be seen to be provided a drive unit 91 substantially identical to that previously described for the brush set 17. In brief there is provided a drive gear 92 keyed to the shaft 37 and engaging a pair of opposed bevel gears 93 which operate through a gear train to rotate hollow shafts 94 extending outward from the housing 16. Paint feeder passages 96 from the main paint passages 44 communicate with the inner end of the hollow shafts 94 and valves 97 operate to open or close these feeder passages. The location of the valves 97 may be rotated ninety degrees about the housing from the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 for easy access and in such case two of the main paint passages would terminate above the feeder passages 96 which would each extend across one housing side and half of another to the hollow shafts.

As regards the brush mounting of the set 21 there are provided a pair of like wheels 98 each having central hubs 99 secured to the outer end of one of the hollow shafts 94. The wheel 98 illustrated in FIGURE 8 is formed with an expanded rim 100 having a circumferential depression therein and individual brushes 101 are set in this depression at spaced intervals. The individual brushes are removably fixed upon the Wheel 98 with the bristles thereof pointed radially outward of the wheel and spring clips 102 may be employed in this respect. Each brush is provided with a small central tube 103 extending through the brush back and into the bristles. Paint is automatically fed to the brushes through an axial bore 104 in the wheel hub 99 communicating with the hollow driving shaft 94 and terminating at the juncture of a plurality of passages 1'86 radiating outwardly of the wheel. These passages 1% each communicate with one of the brush tubes 103 so that a complete paint flow path is provided to each brush. It will be appreciated that the wheels 98 are mounted on an axis normal to the axis of the housing 10 and shaft 37 and the lower brush set 21 has the wheels thereof disposed to extend below the housing, as shown in FIGURE 8. The gear train in the drive line provides for speed reduction between shaft 37 rotation and wheel 93 rotation and note further that in the drive of both brush sets 19 and 21 the main shaft 37 is axially movable without disengaging the brush drive. With the wheels 98 having a larger diameter than the housing cross sectional dimension the brushes 1D]; in rotation extend well beyond both the housing and preferably extend equally therefrom with the brushes of the sets 17 and 23.

It will be seen from FIGURE 1 that each of the brush sets are operable to contact a surface to be painted with certain rotation housing dispositions and further that no matter What the rotational housing disposition when same is held parallel to a surface at least two or more brush sets move across the surface. For particular applications it may be desirable to employ different types of brushes in dilferent sets and for example it has been found advantageous in certain situations to employ soft bristle brushes in the bottom set 21 for finishing or final touch up. Of course in any particular instance paint may be cut off from any set of brushes by the valves provided and housing rotation may be stopped without stopping brush movement or paint supply. The invention will thus be seen to be quite versatile and readily adaptable to a wide variety of applications.

What is claimed is:

1. A paint applicator comprising an elongated hous ing having an .axial shaft rotatably mounted therein and adapted for powered rotation, means connecting said shaft to a portion of said housing for rotating same, a plurality of paint brushes disposed for rotation adjacent said housing, drive means connecting said shaft and at least some of said brushes for rotating the latter relative to said housing and about axes of rotation normally related to the longitudinal axis of said housing, and the other of said brushes being mounted on said housing for rotation therewith about said longitudinal axis.

2. A paint applicator as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said plurality of brushes comprising a plurality of sets of brushes with separate sets extending from separate sides of said housing whereby brushes extend from all housing sides.

3. A paint applicator as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said plurality of brushes comprising at least a first set of brushes including two brushes extending from opposite sides of said housing and mounted for eccentric rotation about an axis therethrough normal to the housing axis, a second set of brushes mounted about the periphery of a pair of wheels that are in turn mounted upon the housing on an axis normal to the housing axis and to the axis of rotation of said first set of brushes, and a third set of brushes fixed to said housing for rota tion only therewith and extending outward of said housing at spaced intervals thereabout.

4. A powered paint applicator comprising an elongated housing having one portion rotatably mounted upon the remainder thereof and including paint passages through the rotatable housing portion, a shaft extending axially through said housing and removably connected to the rotatable portion thereof, a tube containing a drive shaft connected to said housing for supplying paint to said housing passages and having the drive shaft thereof connected to said housing shaft for rotating same, a plurality of sets of paint brushes disposed along the rotatable portion of said housing in communication with the passages therein for supplying paint to the brushes thereof, and connecting means between said housing shaft and at least some of the sets of paint brushes for moving the latter relative to said housing.

5. A powered paint applicator as defined in claim 4 further characterized by gear means connecting said housing shaft and housing, and mounting means providing controlled relative axial displacement of housing shaft and housing to disengage said gear means without affecting the connecting means between housing shaft and brush sets.

6. A powered paint applicator as defined in claim 4 further characterized by said plurality of sets of paint brushes comprising a first set including a pair of paint brushes extending from opposite sides of said housing upon coaxial shafts eccentrically connected to the brush backs and normal to the housing shaft, a second set of brushes including a plurality of brushes extending radially from wheels mounted upon coaxial shafts normal to the housing shaft, and at least one set of brushes mounted upon said housing and extending outward therefrom at spaced intervals about the circumference thereof,

7. A powered paint applicator comprising an elongated housing having a stationary portion with a rotatable portion mounted thereon for rotation about the housing axis, a shaft mounted for rotation along the axis of said housing and connected to the rotatable housing portion through mating gears, means including a handle extending through said housing and engaging said shaft for axially displacing said shaft relative to said housing to disengage said gears and disconnect said shaft and housing, sets of brushes mounted on said housing along the length of the rotatable portion thereof, and. means connetcing said shaft to at least one of said sets of brushes for rotating same about an axis normal to the shaft.

8. A powered paint applicator as defined in claim 7 further defined by a drive motor, a paint pump driven from said motor and including impel'ing means having a shaft, a flexible tube secured to said pump outlet and surrounding a flexible shaft connected to said pump shaft for rotation therewith, means connecting said flexible shaft to said shaft within the housing, and said rotatable housing portion defining paint passages communicating between said flexible tube and said brush sets for feeding paint to the latter.

9. A powered paint applicator as defined in claim 7 further characterized by at least one of said sets of brushes including a plurality of brushes extending radially outward from the periphery of a pair of wheels mounted on coaxial hollow shafts extending from opposite housing sides with the common wheel axis normal to the housing axis, and gear means connecting said housing shaft and said wheel shafts for wheel rotation.

10. A powered paint applicator comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be driven, a housing about said shaft and having a portion rotatable about the axis thereof and controllably connected to said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of sets of brushes of which at least two are shaft mounted on said housing on axes normal to each other and to said housing axis, gear drive means connecting said rotatable shaft and said shaft mounted brush sets whereby the latter rotate with said housing and relative thereto, and paint feed means communicating with the brushes of each of said sets for supplying paint thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor et a1 Sept. 1, Wadsworth May 23, Wolfner Apr. 26, Rodgers Apr. 18,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 26, 

